Highlights

What do you do when the wind has been terrible this year

AND

we found great windbreakers at GAP that were 50% off'

PLUS and additional 30% off?

We buy THREE even if they are HIGHLIGHTER YELLOW/GREEN!

Atleast I can find them all at the park!

And this must bethe sale color of the year they match my jacket I got for China!

Yesterday started our post daylight savings long days!

At the last minute I realized that we wouldn't get home until 7:30 

so I threw together a heathy planned out peanut butter dinner.

Until we got to the playgrounds and realized that the school ones are peanut free zones UGH

On the go dinner advice would be awesome!

Sunday snapshot - sunny days

We have had some beautiful days here in Colorado.

I love how our house is set up for the littles, our front yard has about an acre completely fenced in with a play structure, playhouse, and lots of kids stuff in the front yard.

This is my view from my office.

I can work and watch them play.

THREE months as siblings,

Three months with as little K's

Man, have they come a long way!

Standing in faith

Today was the culmination of our terrible first days in China.  I didn't realize until last night that we have basically been holding our breath for almost 3 months - wanna take a gander at possibly why connecting with Cav has been jsut a little harder?!?!

To catch you up we had NO IDEA that Cav's hand were also affected.  In the dimness of that horrible time all I could remember was 4 limbs affected meant we were no longer looking at a one in a million birth defect BUT more likely a syndrome.

It was confirmed today ~

His "defects" crossed the midline of the body,
This meant
A syndrome that could affect the -
Kidneys
Eyes
and . . .
HEART!

Let me tell you we were specific on what we COULD and could NOT handle.  I have met some incredible people who are heart families, I stand in AWE of them everyday.  We pray for their kids, we learn from their unselfishness, we ARE NOT a heart family.

And now we just might be.

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.
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And we stand in faith.  Truly I do not know how anyone can go through this without faith - and I am not saying that to get in an argument, frankly, I don't have the strength.  I say that because the human parts of me are so lacking, so heartbroken.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.


And did we see grace at every step today.  I hate even talking about this part of adoption because I don't want people thinking we made a huge mistake.  This 3 year old is NOT a mistake, he is our son.  My heartache tonight is no different than the heartache we felt after finding out little man would have dwarfism.  It is a sadness for what this child of mine will have to face.  

Many have asked if I am mad China lied, and truthfully, I once again see it as God's grace.  I know myself, and I know if everything was laid out in his file we would have quite simply said "NO!"  And this little boy would never have experienced his very first school pictures, with a momma who never buys school pictures buying the whole pack - shelling out the money jsut because they are his first AND he looks so cute!


For tonight I will drown my sorrows in a bucket of Blue Bell and tomorrow we will face life head on trusting in Him.

Life has begun

Spring sports have begun . . . Without the spring!!

The big kids are just plain busy. Luckily we have help with rides some of the time - & the rest . . . A clone would be great! Seriously, lacrosse, soccer, confirmation, volleyball & oh yeah lacrosse. I know some are going to say cut some out. But we did in the fall, also our two big kids miss out on doing a lot because of the littles. So for a couple weeks until it gets warmer out they will spend the few hours like this - ugh poor momma - pleasant goat is just NOT pleasant be weds lol!!

Sunday Snapshot - Laundry

 This baby is so sweet and so happy, we kind of just play life by ear with her. She is sure that naps are for babies - like Cavanaugh.  Everyday, I make her play quietly and everyday I find her asleep on the floor.

But today I just had to laugh

Cuz, she looks like I feel with all the laundry!

Dr Seuss

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. 

It's not.

                                                         Dr. Seuss

Qingdao, Shandong China

Shriner's decisions

I am sure i have mentioned that Cav will be a double amputee - and that the orthopedist here said we needed to wait until he is completely bonded and trusting.

Hmmmm, and how do I gauge that!!

ANyhow, Cav must have gained 5 lbs since coming home.  He is just getting so heavy to carry everywhere.  I mean he walks on his knees but the one thing we didn't anticipate is the SNOW and wet muddy ground.  Also the concrete and pebbles to a terrible number on his poor little knees.

When I picked up Cav from preschool yesterday the teacher handed me a balloon doggie.  Apparently, a shriner handed it to our school physical therapist during a meeting to give to our teacher for Cav.  

Of course a balloon in the wind with a child who has never actually had a balloon equals . . . um . . . a screaming crying little boy ugh!

Anyhow, this has made me think that I might need to reevaluate our decision to have his surgery at home.  We unfortunately live in the no man's land of Shriner's - go ahead look at the map, Shriner's everywhere except near Colorado.  BUT there are 3 all about 12-15 hours away - hmmm Road Trip!!

Seriously, Cav's disability is a 1 in a million birth defect and his is bilateral.  Anyhow, this tells me no one will be the leading expert.  But this will affect his mobility and fit of prosthetics, so I have been fretting over making the right decision on the team who will perform the amputation and create his first prosthetics.

When we first saw his file we spoke to all three Shriner's - Utah, Minneapolis, and St Louis as well as Denver Children's.  THey of course all said they would LOVE to care for him - Ugh such a life changing decision - and so hard to make.